Page 23 of Whiskey's Redemption

“Can you get on with it? I know what happened, I don’t need a history lesson. They’d pulled me from anything that had to do with Crown Industries just before my twenty-fifth birthday. I don’t need you to run it down again.”

He smirks. “True. But you missed a few crucial components of the documents, Mr. Crown.” He passes over a stapled stack of papers. “If you would look that over, you’ll see that not all is as you assumed. Please note the purple tab on page nineteen.”

Picking up the sheets, I begin to read through them, and pause at a particular portion. Rereading it a few times, I’m taken aback. “What does this clause nine mean?”

“I don’t think you’re a stupid man, Mr. Crown. It means exactly as you suspect.”

Reading it again, I try grasping the full impact of the wording.

In the event of the untimely death of both Mr. Jaxon Crown and Mrs. Marca Crown, if one Wyatt Jaxson Crown and one China Marie Crown are found unfit to run the affairs of Crown Industries, whether by mental or physical inability, one Jamieson Harris Crown will take full control of Crown Industries, the Crown properties, and the care of his remaining family at that time.

“Wyatt is awake and—”

“Yes, we’re quite aware that Wyatt is awake, but as for mental and physical capacity to perform duties, that is yet to be determined.”

Sitting still, listening to this man tell me that a clause can adjust my brother and sister’s lives seems ludicrous. I can’t even fathom the idea that these lawyers, who were expected to look after our parents’ affairs, are wanting to tear it all down. Whether by a malicious need or a gratification for them, I’m unsure.

I’m pissed. No, I’m beyond pissed. Rising out of the chair, pushing it back against the wall, it crashes as I stare down at the wheezing man. “So you brought me here to tell me you’re looking at having my brother deemed incapable for the head position of Crown Industries?”

His devious smile is dark and ominous. “Yes. In essence, that’s the jist of it. Your parents felt you would be the best person to run Crown when and if your siblings were unable to control such a business. Wyatt’s mental illness leaves him dangerously ineffective for the position, and your sister, with her precarious legal proceedings, leaves her to be a publicity nightmare. You may not have a care for the racing circuits or the motor world in general, but you are the best man for the job.”

“And if I decline?”

“Clause seventy-three. Blue tab.” He points to the stack in the middle of the table. “Effectively, it could leave you and your siblings in a hostile takeover situation from the board.”

“Fuck!” Pushing my nails through my hair, I pace, dangerously close to a fist or two through a wall. I do everything in my power to calm down.

Not moving an inch, old man wheezer and the young woman say nothing, allowing me to deal alone with the realization that I’m about to fix or fuck our family even further than it already has been.

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